MISL GETS `BLACK EYE` IN SEASON OF FIRSTS

John LeptichCHICAGO TRIBUNE

When Major Indoor Soccer League historians document its eighth season, they`ll have plenty to sort through. The regular season, which ends Sunday with the Sting-St. Louis game, has provided some interesting moments.

There was the sale of the league`s all-time leading scorer, Steve Zungul, to Tacoma, rumblings of financial problems in half of the league`s 12 cities, the threat of the first players` strike in league history and the tightest division race in league history.

But what has to be one of the most bizarre acts in MISL history occurred last Monday night in St. Louis when normally mild-mannered Los Angeles Lazers` coach Peter Wall hit the ceiling.

After his team drew its eighth penalty of the game, Wall was ejected for allegedly throwing water at referees Esse Baharmast and Kelly Mock late in the fourth quarter. Wall retired to the Lazers` locker room, but came back to shout instructions to his players from behind the goal.

Protesting what he called poor officiating, Wall told his players not to resist any Steamers` attacks during the final 3 minutes 32 seconds of the match.

St. Louis scored three power-play goals in 2 minutes 6 seconds with Lazers` players simply standing around to win 8-2. Right after Wall`s penalty and directive, Lazers Val Fernandes and Batata were ejected for lying down on the field.

MISL records were set for most power-play goals in one game by one team

(7); most power-play attempts by one team (11); most penalties, one team

(12); most penalties, both teams (19); most penalty minutes, one team (30);

and most penalty minutes, both teams (47).

''It`s not good sportsmanship necessarily,'' said Wall, ''but it`s the only way I think something can be done. The officiating was a disgrace. I didn`t set out to prove a point originally. The officiating hasn`t improved all year. I just wanted to do something about it.''

None of the Lazers` players would talk about the incident, but Wall`s action rankled others in soccer.

''Just to go out there and do this, for whatever reason, leaves a big black eye on all of us,'' said Steamers` forward Don Ebert. ''There was nothing we could do. The fans were yelling at us to score. We could have probably had 20 goals, but we didn`t feel scoring like that was the right thing to do.''

MISL commissioner Frank Dale says he`ll decide by Monday if Wall should be fined or suspended.

''This is unparalleled,'' Dale said. ''It`s a real attack on the integrity of the game, a serious breach. It`s a sufficient challenge to the authority of the game. I will rule accordingly.''

Said Wall: ''I hate to have my future in the hands of these people. I don`t know what they`ll do. I apologize to the fans for my actions, but we had to do something.''

-- The MISL is taking a different approach to its 1986 collegiate draft. This year`s talent selection will be made in Richfield, Ohio, as part of the Budweiser Soccer Classic. The event, hosted by the Cleveland Force and featuring the top 60 college seniors in the country, begins at 4 p.m. June 1 when players from NCAA Division II and III colleges and NAIA schools face each other in an East vs. West match. A second game at 6:30 p.m. will match East vs. West from Division I schools.

The draft will take place June 2 at 11 a.m. The games will afford MISL coaches the chance to see players indoors. Previously, most were scouted only while playing outdoors for their colleges and universities.

-- Cleveland Force coach Timo Liekoski`s drive to scout upcoming opponents has been unparalleled. But Liekoski may change his ways. Liekoski recently drove to Pittsburgh to watch the Spirit play host to the Minnesota Strikers. He parked his car just outside the players` gate and went in. Two hours later, the car was gone. The police found it a few miles from the Civic Arena.